Fall 2013 October 24

45 degrees this morning.  Cool, but not cold.

We watched many of the St. Louis Cardinals who started in the World Series as Memphis Redbirds THIS summer and over the past several seasons.  Going to the Redbirds games has actually turned us from Chicago Cub fans to St. Louis Cardinal fans as we watched the players develop.  Don't get me wrong-we are still strong Cubs fans, but we ALMOST are as fanatic Cardinal fans

So, last night, it was like watching your children (or person you have mentored etc.) get a big chance and blow it as they made stupid errors etc.  You love them anyway, but the pain is a bit deeper when we watched the players develop from hopefuls (although AAA is excellent anyway) into big league stars.  Of course, we have faith in them.  We saw them stumble and get back up as Memphis Redbirds and St. Louis Cardinals and we have faith!

It probably is worse in that baseball is our favorite sport.  We can take or leave pro football (but like college) and don't care for pro basketball at all (although we think the Grizzles are special), so it is a special treat to see one of our two favorite teams make it to the top.  Aliene is actually a better baseball fan then I am.  She recognizes the players and is good at knowing the basic strategic.

Thinking about disappointments this morning, I have to think about my disappointment at never being able to find a coffee cup I can using while driving.  Either it spills, or drips, or breaks or whatever.  The McDonalds coffee cup is actually the best, and I have a lot of candidates for the absolute worst travel mug or car coffee cup.  It seems it shouldn't be that hard to invent one that doesn't spill, drip or break etc!  I have tried all types (yes Starbucks is actually one of the worst) and I have tried several of their mugs, they don't work

Summer 2013 August 18

67/70 degrees this morning.  Foggy outside, at times during my bike ride, almost foggy to the extend of being light rain.  Chairs etc. have heavy due on them.

English Garden failed to come out and finish the landscape project again, which probably means the trees will die again etc.  

Preparing myself psychologically for having two teeth (tooth?) implants sometime in the near future.  They will replace a bridge.

It all started after I got out of the Air Force.  There is a one year period that you can get free dental care (or some version if it).  I decided it would be prudent to take advantage of it, which was a very bad decision.  The dentist involved apparently thought it was easier to remove the tooth than to take the trouble to try to save it.  I realize now a simple (even at that time) root canal would have saved the tooth.    

Anyway, rather than replace the bridge again, it looks like getting teeth implants is the best way to go, primarily because it will help prevent damage to other teeth and is "good for life" if done right. It is a long process (about 6 months total), but I feel comfortable with  the Oral Surgeon involved and feel this is a good time to do it.

Redbirds game last night was rained out (at least for us, since we left at the rain delay, although the game was eventually finished).  Every summer has a special memory (or memories) and I think we will remember the Summer of 13 for the very enjoyable nights at the Redbirds games.

Summer 2013 August 16

66 degrees this morning!  I am ready for the return to hot weather, although the daytime has been nice, weather wise.

Finished reading (actually listening to) "Steve Jobs".  It is a great book on the development of the computer age, regardless of what you may think of Steve Jobs or Apple Computer.  I will probably buy the book just to have it around to re-read.  He made some major mistakes on products (I have several of the latest iPod Shuffles to prove it!), but also some wonderful products (iPhone 5, iMac etc.).

I thought the second of my three original iPod shuffles (the gumstick ones) battery had gone out this morning, but I think it is recharging. I really like the gumstick ones and feel the iPod shuffles after that were basically failures.  I do like the latest iPod Nano.

I started listening to a book on "Willpower".  I'll give it several sessions, but was not impressed by the first listening.  I guess I don't have the willpower to suffer through it!  

The political campaign in Lakeland continues.  Obviously I can't say much about it, except it brings out the worst in some people and the best in others.  Worst of all, it trashes up the environment with signs.  Realize they may be necessary, but I'm not sure why.  In as way it is insulting to voters to assume their votes can be obtained by a large number of signs hoping they will vote based on name recognition like selling soft drinks.  At least is will be over in a month or so.

The last weekend of Redbirds baseball (The Memphis Redbirds, the minor league team for the St. Louis Cardinals).  It has been a lot of fun attending the games.  While both Aliene and I are extreme Chicago Cubs baseball fans, we have become (almost) as extreme St. Louis Cardinal fans since many of the players we have seen playing on the Memphis Redbirds are now stars of the Cardinals.  Hard not to be for them.  The Memphis Redbirds also just are a class organization and the Autozone baseball stadium is wonderful.  We are rapidly becoming diehard (whatever that means) Cardinal fans.

Friday.  While I spend much of my weekend on work activities, it is difference since I am not tethered to the office etc.  Gives me a chance to catch up on work as well as personal activities.  

Summer 2013 August 4

73 degrees this morning, a little cool.  Out on the patio, but a cool breeze is making it a little cool.

Birthday days are upon us!  Mary Anne, John and I.  It was always a fun time. (As I remember it anyway)

Weekend has been busy in spite of myself.  My "books to be read" list keeps growing.  I did finish "Watchers" yesterday, which is for our book discussion page.  I read an "e-book" version of it, and read it in moments when I had time.  

School starts tomorrow here.  In a way it signals the end of Summer, and is, for some purposes.  However, here, the Summer really continues into almost November (sometimes up until Thanksgiving) and the true Winter seems to hit around Christmas and last until late February and then an extremely long Winter/Spring of coolish weather that seems to last forever until mid to late May. 

Not a lot planned this weekend, working on some items for work (letters to applicants, memos, planning etc), going to the last of the Redbird ball games for the season.  I was surprised at myself that I really enjoyed attending Redbirds ball games, I have been attending (in sporadic fashion until about 4 years ago) for almost ten years now.  

While I ride my bicycle daily (except when it is raining), I haven't resumed my long distance rides (hour or more), mainly due to time.  I will need to start training soon since the time is coming for my "ride with the Summer", either in 2014 or 2015.  Perhaps I just need to go out and do it.  I am trying to figure out how long it will take me and the best routes.  My experience with biking in the same lanes as cars indicates it is NOT a good deal for the bike rider!  That is my primary concern

Summer 2013 July 31

79 degrees this morning.  Started raining about 6:30 a.m., so couldn't sit out on the patio in spite of excellent weather.  

I really don't like rain.  I prefer sunny weather, even though I know rain is necessary.  I have never considered rain to be romantic.  Of course, it is one of those things that is out of my control, so I won't worry about it. 

One of the most important thoughts or concepts I have learned in life is don't worry about events or things I can't control.  Saves me a lot of time and wasted energy.  Of course, I do need to worry about my reaction or what I will do if an event happens, whether I can control it or not!

Hope the rain stops.  Went to the Redbirds ballgame last night.  I will miss the Redbirds games after the summery winds down.  For some reason, their home schedule ends in mid-August (instead of early September), so I am hoping they will be in the playoffs so we can see a game or two in September.

Summer 2013 July 29

Relatively cool weather this morning (70 degrees), it is turning out to be a cool summer.  I really noticed a lot of difference in the heat between here and Topeka, Kansas (it seemed a lot more muggy in Topeka, not sure why, maybe the altitude).

Speaking of time, one reason I don't watch many videos on the computer or watch hardly any live tv is that they seem to have no concept that my time is valuable!  I can't pick and choose, like I can a newspaper, written story on the computer etc.  I also rarely to to movies for the same reason.  I guess I don't like ceding control of myself to someone else.  I especially hate wasting my time on hearing/seeing sports news, "celebrities" I know nothing about (or could care less about) etc., or crimes that I don't need to know about.  I have always been that way, not a matter of "getting older" or whatever". 

School will be starting next month, meaning summer is almost over.  I will miss going to the Redbird baseball games, we really have enjoyed it, even when they lose it is fun to sit outside. the Redbirds are a class organization.  For some reason, baseball is the only sport I really enjoy seeing "personally and live".  Maybe because it is outside and has a relatively even pace (the length of the games is one thing I don't like).  Anyway, I will miss them.  The Redbirds are a class organization and I enjoy dealing them them and seeing the games, even if it does take up an entire evening.

Speaking of time, I try to not schedule early morning (8:00 a.m. or before) appointments, if possible, so I won't intrude on my precious morning "hyper time".  I scheduled one this morning for some reason.  

The Lakeland Election campaign will be in full swing soon.  Campaign signs will be allowed starting today and I'm sure the informational mailings will start.  I will be glad when it is over.